Conveyer for coated pipe



W. R. POSTLEWAITE CONVEYER FOR COATED PIPE A fil'l4, 1942.

Fild Dec. 5, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WlLLIA R. POSTLEWAITE A AF 20 w. RJPosT EW p'rE 2.279340 poNvEYER FOR COATED PIPE:

. Fiied Dad. 5 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTOk WILLIAM R. POSTLEWAITE April 14, 19 .w. R. POSTLEWAITE 2,

GONVEY'ER'FOR COATED PIPE v Filed Dec. .5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WILL M R.POSTLEWA!TE Ami? 1 53 W. R. PQSTLEWAHTE 'CONVEYER FOR COATED PIPE Filed Dec. 5, 1958 5 Shecs-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED STAT Es PATENT- OFFICE CONVEYER FOR COATEDPIPE William R. Postlewaite, San Francisco, Oalif.,

Delaware assignor to Standard Oil Company of California, San Francisco, ,0

aliL, a corporation of Application Decemberi, 1938, Serial No. 243,927-

14 Claims.

- This invention relates to a'mechanism for receiving separate lengths of pipe or the like from a coating operation and is particularly directed to an improved means for supporting the coated lengths of pipe and conveying them away from the coating apparatus without interfering with I the continuous operation of the latter.

Certain continuous pipe-coating ope.ations, for example, that of my Patent No. 2,040,876 issued May 19, 1936, utilize an extrusion nozzle through which pipe is advanced helically as by the apparatus of Patent No. 2,112,865 issued April 5, 1938,'to J. F. Putnam or of my co-pending application Ser. No. 243,928 filed Dec. 5, 1938,

and in which a plastic bituminous material such .form and will not .be distorted by uncontrolled sagging of the unsupported portion of the pipe.

It is an object of this'invention to provide an apparatus for receiving and supporting a, pipe or similar cylindrical member which is being coated with a relatively thick layer of a plastic 1 material and which is followed by successive lengths of such members.

Another object is to provide an apparatus" for exposing the ends of pipes or similar cylindrical objects which are successively advanced through as that of C. S. McDonald Patent No. 1,984,649

is applied to form a continuous, seamless, outer coating of appreciable thickness. The successive lengths of pipe which are thus coated may be coupled together during the coating operation by.means of the dev ice of my patent No. 2,077,769 issuedApril 20, 1937, which. coupler is particularly adapted to be readily disconnected by anaxial separation of the adjacent sections of pipe.

In a continuous pipe-coating operation, such asis described and claimed in the patents cited above, it isnecessary' that the" successive lengths of coated pipe be received upona suitable carrage or carriages asthey emerge from the coating apparatus, separated, and removed to a place of storage. It is desirable that these carriages be rapidly returned to be inlposition'for receiving the next length of pipe without interrupting or delaying the continuous'operation of 'the coating process. It is also .desirable that the coating material beremoved for a short distance from the abutting ends of the pipe sections, not only to permit withdrawal of the couplings which have joined them during the coating process, but also to facilitate subsequent welding or other operations'which will permanently join the pipe lengths into a continuous line.

This invention comprehends broadly an apparatus for receiving successive lengths of pipe, removing the coating for a short distance back from the ends, disconnecting the completely coated section from that still emerging from the coating nozzle and rapidly removing the free length from the machine so that it'may be placed on a cooling or storage rack. During these operations it is desirablethat the pipe be supported topreserve the alignment of that portion passing through the nozzle 'withthe nozzle axis so that the thickness of the coating will be'unia coating apparatus so that couplers or other meansconnecting adjacent lengths may be separated or withdrawn.

Another object is to provide a pipe-conveyin apparatus which will separate successive lengths of coated pipe and advance the leading section to a point where it may be removed from the apparatus, the conveying apparatus being arranged to be rapidly returned to receive the next length of pipe.

Another object is, to provide a pipe-conveying and handling apparatus that'is sloped to compensate for the sag which occurs in long lengths of pipe to which a coating is being applied by an extrusion process.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this nature which will require a minimum of manual operation and attendance and which will be positive in its action to receive and convey' pipe from a coating machine.

These and other objects and advantages will be further apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing the pipe after the coating has been removed for a short distance on each side of the abutting ends. 1

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation view e of the same apparatus, showing the, completely coated-and trimmed length of pipe separated from that pipe still in the machine and in position to be removed to a storage rack or the like.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the apparatus of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. showing thetrimmer car and the end car returned to a posiceives and supports the advancing end of the pipe section being handled.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the end car of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an-end elevation view of the end car of Fig. 5, showing its arrangement when harrdling a large diameter pipe section. a

Fig. 8 is an end elevation view of the end car of Fig. 5, showing its arrangement when handling a small diameter pipe section.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a drive and control mechanism for the cable used to connect and to drive the end and trimmer cars.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation view on line X-X of Fig. 9.

' Fig. 11 is an end elevation view on line XI-XI of Fig. 9.

Fig.- 12 is a plan view of the trimmer car, showing the arrangement of the pipe support jack, the trimmer blade and apron, and the latchmechanism to retain the trimmer car in position adjacent the coating apparatus during a predetermined part of the operating cycle.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation view of the trimmer car shown in Fig. 12 and illustrates in more detail the latch mechanism and cable tow attachment for the trimmer car.

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 12, showing a large diameter pipe in place on the trimmer car and with the 1 trimmer blade in position to remove the coating adjacent the Joint between succeeding lengths of pipe.

Fig. 15 is a transverse'sectional view on line XV-XV of Fig. 12, showing the trimmer carcable grip for the trimmer car.

Fig. 17 is a detailed sectional view on line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16, illustrating one form of cable grip. Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, reference numeral 20 designates generally a coating apparatus which may be of the type described in my Patent No. 2,040,876 through which pipe 2| is ad-- vanced helically by suitable means such as by the apparatus of my co-pending application Ser. No. 243,928 filed December 5, 1938, which issued 'April 23, 1940, as Patent No. 2,198,178. Coating apparatus 20 may be continuously supplied with a plastic material 22, such as the bituminous mastic of the C. S. McDonald Patent No. 1,984,649,

which comprises a graded mineral aggregate with a small proportion of a bituminous binder. As the pipe 2| advances through the coating apparatus 24, this material is extruded onto its outer surface in a concentric layer ranging from about V4 to inch in thickness. Adjacent lengths of pipe 2| are preferably connected by means of separable couplers 23 which may be or the type short distance back from the abutting ends of tion to receive the next length'of pipe emerging or of removal from the pipe sections could equally well be used for this purpose.

A track 24 extends outwardly from the coating apparatus 20 and is parallel to the. axis of the pipe 2|. In order to compensate for the sag of the pipe being coated, which may be in lengths of 20 to feet, track 24 is preferably made in sections hinged as at 25 and supported upon adjustable jacks 26 so that the track may be sloped upwardly for at least a partof its length. This will permit that portion of the pipe 2| that is passing through coating apparatus 20 to be ccaxial thereto and will insure a concentric coating 22.

At one end of track 24 is a cable drive mechanism, generally designated 21, which is adapted to drive sheave 28 in either direction. A flexible metallic cable 28 passes around sheave 28 and extends the full length of track 24 to an idler sheave 30, returning to sheave 28 beneath track 24. In order to support the advancing end of pipe 2| as it passes outwardly along track 24 from coating means 20, an end car 3| is mounted upon track 24 and is connected at either end to cable 23. f

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, which show the detailed construction of end car 3|, it will be noted that the. car consists of a flat body 32 supported by transverse shafts 33 on which are iournaled flanged wheels 34. A fixed bracket 35, at one side of the longitudinal axis of car 3|, is adapted to support a partly tapered roller 36. A similar roller is supported in an adjustable bracket 31 on the opposite side of car 3|. As the advancing end of pipe 3| contacts tapered rollers 36, it will ride up on them and finally come to rest on their cylindrical portions. shaft 38 is supported upon a movable base 33 and acts as a bearing for an end roller 40 against which the end of pipe 2| is adapted to bear as it pushes car 3| along track 24. Lugs'4| provide means for securing cable 29 to car 3|.

It is usually desirable to expose pipe 2| for a the pipesections. This operation is performed by removing the coating 22 at the trailing end of the leading section of pipe. and the leading end of the following section of pipe, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this example the pipe is passed helically through coating apparatus 20 so that, if a trimmer blade or scraper is held against the coatins and advanced longitudinally at the same rate that the pipe -2| advances longitudinally, the coating will be removed in a band extending completely around the pipe. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 2, 14 and 15, and preferably consists of a trimmer blade 42 pivotally supported upon a trimmer. car 43. Car 43 is provided with a clamping means, to be described below, that may selectively be actuated to positively engage cable 29. As the leading section of pipe 2| passes outwardly along track 24 it will urge end car 3| along the track at the shown in my Patent No. 2,077,769. These serve a to align the abutting ends of the pipe sections and also act to transmit the helical motion from the following to the advancing length at pipe being coated. They are separable axially by a longitudinally acting force applied to the advancing length of pipe. Obviously, any other coupler which would permit of such separation same rate. By clamping trimmer car 43 to cable of the leading section 2| of the pipe which is within the coating apparatus 20 being known, the operator can clamp trimmer car 43 at the junction between the advancing and following sections so that coupl "will be'exposed and the A vertical 90 pass.

29 so that coupler 23 will be exposed and the coating removed for a short distance back from .each of the abutting ends.

If a straight-through extrusion coating apparatus is used, 1. e., one in which the pipe ad vances longitudinally without a rotational component of motion, it will be necessary to arrange trimmer blade 42 to move relatively to pipe 2| between follower block 56 andthe upper end of that slot so that a vertically upward motion of block 56 will cause the cable to be gripped, preventing relative motion between the cable and and coating 22 in order to remove the coating at 1 the desired point. Such a modification could'be made in various ways by anyone skilled in this art and need not be described in detail in this discussion, it being understood that the principal requirement is a blade or scraper movable relasary to provide some means to support the trail-' ing end of the advancing section. In this example such means are mounted upon the trimmer car 43 and constitute a fluid actuated jack 44 on top of which is a transverse bar or cradle 45 which will contact the lower surface of pipe 2|. The leading section of pipe 2|, being supported at its advancing end by car 3| and at its trailing end by car 43, may be separated from the trailing section by urging cable 29 to advance at a morerapld rate than the longitudinal component given to the pipe 2| by the feed device trimmer car 43.

Fig. 16 illustrates in some detail a preferred interlocking. arrangement between the frame 53 for trimmer blade 42, the cable. grip 53 and the fluid actuated jack 44, all of which are actuated substantially simultaneously; The fluid actuated jack comprises essentially a cylinder 51 closed at 'the bottom by meansof a plate 58 and pro-- -vided with a piston 59. The upper endof piston 59 terminates in a plate 69 on which is mounted the transverse bar or cradle 45 which engages the lower part of pip'e2l to support the same. Piston 59 is slotted. as at 6| to permit housing 54 for cable 29 to pass through cylinder 51 so as to be aligned with cable grip 53. A spacer block 62 which advances the successive sections through the coating apparatus 29.

Figs. 12 to 15 illustrate in some detail the construction and operation of trimmer car 43. That car has a flat bed or body 46 supported by trans-Y Verse shafts 41 on which are mounted flanged wheels 48. A pair of brackets 49 pivotally support a frame 59, to one end ofwhich is secured the trimmer blade 42 previously mentioned. This blade'is provided with a hardened edge parallel to the axis of pipe 2| and is inclined downwardly so that the coating material which is removed will slide freely into a chute 5|, and away from car 43 andtrack 24. Handle 52 on frame is adapted to be grasped by an operator and pulled outwardly away from the pipe axis, thusrotatin frame 59 in brackets 49 and lifting the trimmer blade 42 into contact with the side of Pipes 2| to remove a' section of coating 22 therefrom.-

may be inserted in the lower end of slot 6| to limit'the upward travel of piston 59 so that it may be adjusted for different diameters of pipe 2|,

A bracket 63 extends outwardly from one sideof plate 69 and is connected to follower block 51 of cable grip 53 by means of an eye bolt 64, spring 65 and clevis 66. To prevent pieces of the coating 22 which are removed by trimmer blade 42 from interfering with the operation of jack 44 and cable grip 53, housing members 61 and 69 may be provided for those two means.

The interlocking arrangement for trimmer blade 42, jack 44 and cable grip 53 is best shown in Fig. 16 and inthis example constitutes a fluid control valve 69 connected to frame 59 by means of a pivoted'link I9. 9 Valve 69 is adapted to move in bore 1| of valve body 12. Anair admission port 13 is supplied from any suitable source of compressed air by means of hose 14, which lies between the side members of track 24 and is of such length that it will permit car 42 to travel substantially the full length of track 24. Fluid control valve 69 is. of the piston type and in its in cable grip 53. Link 19 is so connected to piv- The desirability for positively connecting cars 3| and 42 together during the removal of the coating 22, adjacent the coupling 23'and for a period of time thereafter during which theleading pipe section 2| is separated from that section still in the machine, has already been explained. In this example such connection is made automaticallyby a cable grip generally designated 53, which is actuated by the pivoted frame 59 at the time that that frame is moved to engage the trimmer blade 42 with pipe 2|. Referring to Figs. 14 to, 17 inclusive, it will be noted that trimmer car 43 is provided with a longitudinal housing 54 through which thefiexible cable 29 isadapted Intermediate the ends of housing 54 is a cable grip 53' provided with a vertical slot 55, the upper portion of which is converging and is preferably coated witha hard facing material, for example, an arc weld deposit of a metallic carbide. A follower block 56 is adapted to move vertically in the lower part of slot and is likewise provided with *a hard facing material on its upper surface. Cable 29 passes through slot 55- 'pipe 2''! '(Fi 2).

oted frame 59, carrying, trimmer blade 42, that the operation just described will occur substantially simultaneously with the removal of the short section of coating 22 adjacent the abut- I ting ends of the leading and trailing sections of I When valve 69 is returned to its upper portion, as shown in Fig. 6, by a reverse motion of frame 59 and blade 42, conduit 15 is connected to an air discharge port 16 at the upper end of valve body 12, thus releasing the air or other actuating fluid from cylinder 51 and permitting jack 44 and cable grip 53 to return to their lower positions, illustrated inv Fig. 16.

- Ateither end of cable housing 54 on car 43, it is preferred to mount guide pulleys 11 and 16. In order to retain trimmer car 43 at the left end of track 24 in position to receive the trailing end of the leading pipe section 2|,it is desirable, to rovide a latch means which will engage a part of car 43 and hold it against the unavoidable friction between cable grip 53 and cable '29 while end car 3| is being pushed along track 24 by the urges latch 83 to its closed position.

advancing outer end of pipe 2|. Under some conditions of operation it may be desirable to adjust bolt 84 on cable grip 53 so that follower block 58 will always bear with some degree of friction against cable 29, for a purpose which will be explained in greater detail below. I

In this example the latch means just mentioned comprises a lug l9 pivoted to the rear end of car 43 and urged toward the car by a spring 99. A transverse member 8| extends across track 24 and is provided with stop members 82 so that wheels 48 of trimmer car 43 will not pass to the left of a desired point. Intermediate the ends of transverse member 8| is a pivoted latch 83 provided with a notch 84 to receive the lower end of the hinged lug 19 on car 43. A spring 85 Suitable adjusting means are provided for springs 89 and 8-5 sothat positive actuation of cable grip 53,

' of ,a cable drive, generally designated 21, which was adapted to drive sheave 28 and cable 29 in either direction. A preferred arrangement of such a drive is best illustrated in Figs. 9, and 11. It will be appreciated that cable 29 must be free to be moved by car 3| during the operations described above. been latched to cable 29 so that jack 44 will support the trailing end of the leading section of pipe 2| and after the end mastic has been trimmed off it is contemplated that cable drive 21 will beplaced in operation to move car 3| rapidly toward the right end of track 24. This will separate the two parts of coupler 23, as shown in Fig. 3, or will pull one end of the coupler from one-length of pipe, and will place the finally coated length of pipe in position to be removed from cars Hand 43 by an overhead hoistv or the like (not shown). As soon as this length. of pipe is removed from the cars, it is desirable that jack 44 be lowered to retract bar 45, and both cars 43 and 3| be quickly returned to the left end of track 24 sothat car 3| will be in position to receive the continuously advancing end of the an air motor, is secured to a transverse member 88 at the left end of track 24. Compressed air or other actuating fluid for motor 91 may be supplied from the same source as that used for the fluid jack 44 on car 43. Motor 81 is connected byshaft 89 to a speed reducer 99, the latter having a'shaft 9| extending transversely of track 24 to a bearing 92. A clutch mechanism 93 is mounted on shaft 9| andis adapted to 'drive sheave 28, this being the main drive sheave for cable 29. In this example sheave 28 is arranged to receive two wraps of cable 29 to increase its effective driving area of contact, thus requiring an inclined idler sheave 94 on brackets 95. Any

suitable reversing control means may be pro- .videdio'r motor 81, such as shaft 99, sprockets 91,

As soon as trimmer car 43 has chain 98 and handle 99. To operate the drive means, handle 99 of the reversing gear for motor 81 is moved to the desiredposition and clutch 93 is engaged by moving handle I99 to connect the motor 81 through speed reducer'99 to' drive sheave 28. I

9 Although the operation of each of the various component parts of this apparatus has been described in some detail, it is believed that a repetition of one cycle will be of value. Assumin that a section of pipe 2| isbeing advanced by any suitable means through pipe-coating apparatus 29 (as shown in Fig. 4), the leading end of that pipe will be received on tapered rollers 35 of end car 3|, thus pushing that car along the inclined track 24, car 3| acting to move cable 29 at the same longitudinal rate as the end of the pipe. Car 43 is retained in position by latch 83,

and cable drive mechanism is, for the time being, in its idle or free position. As soon as the leading length of pipe has passed through the coating mechanism andhas assumed the position shown in Fig. 1, the operator moves handle 52 of frame 59 to raise the trimmer blade 42 into'contact with the coated pipe at a point opposite coupler 23. At the same time that the rota-' tional component of the pipe motion causes blade 42 to remove a portion of the coatin Jack 44 is actuated to raise transverse bar or cradle 45 to engage the cleaned trailing end of the leading pipe'section 2|. Simultaneously cable grip 53 is actuated by jack 44 so that-car -43 is positivelyconnected to cable 29 and is t0Wed along track 24 by car 3|. The cable drive 21 is then actuated to move cable 29 and cars 3| and 43, which latter carry the leading section of pipe 2|, rapidly along track 24 to separate the leading from the trailing sections of pipe. This places the section of Pipe on the cars in position to be removed, as by an overhead hoist, so that the two cars are free to be returnedto their original position at the left end of track 24. This operation is performed by reversing the motor 89 of cable drive 21. ,The weight of frame .59 and cutter blade 42 is preferably so distributed that the cutter blade will return to its lowered position when the operator releases handle 52, causing jack 44 and cable grip 53 to be retracted. The partial tension of cable grip 53, mentioned above, will cause the-now empty car 43 to return to the left end of track 24 and to engage latch 88. A further motion of the cable through grip 53 will be permitted and will serve to return end car 3| to receive the end of the nextsection of pipe, as in the position shown in Fig; 4, after which the same cycle may be repeated.

It will be appreciated that this apparatus will receive and support successive and varying lengths of. pipe, orthe like, from a continuous coating operation, separate these lengths for disposal and will compensate for the sagging or deflection of the long lengths while they are emerging from the coating equipment. Although a specific construction has been described and illustrated, it is obvious that many changes and ing end of an axially moving length of treated pipe, said means said pipe adjacent the end the advancing end oi a being movable to be advanced by said pipe, a second independently movable support means for receiving the trailing end of said pipe section, means for connecting said first and second support means while said pipe is supported thereby, and means including said connecting means for returning both said s pport means to receive a succeeding length of pipe, the return movement of said support means being in the same plane as the advance movement of said means.

2. A pipe conveying apparatus according to claim 1, with the addition of means independent of the pipe for advancing said movable support means to separate that section of pipe on said support means from a succeeding length or pipe emerging from said pipe treating operation.

3. A pipe conveying apparatus according to claim 1, with the addition of means on said second support means movable with respect to said pipe, for removing a each side of the abutting ends of lengths of pipe.

4. A pipe conveying apparatus according to said successive claim- 1, with the addition of a track forsaid movable support means, said track being sloped upwardly to compensate for the sag of said coated pipe as it is received by said support means.

5. A conveying apparatus for receiving successive abutting lengths of pipe or discharged axially from a continuously operating coating machine, comprising a car supporting the advancing end 01 a length of pipe being coated andmovable to be advanced by the axial motion oiv said pipe length, a second car having vertically extensible means for supporting, the trailing end of said pipe section after it emerges from said coating machine, means for selectively connecting said cars, and means for returning said cars to receive a succeeding length of pipe.

6. A conveying apparatus according to claim 5, with the addition of means for advancing said cars after they have been connected, at a rate more rapid than the axial advance of said pipe, to separate the length or pipe supported on said cars from a succeeding length of pipe.

7. A conveying apparatus according to claim 5, in which the pipe coatingmachine is of the extrusion type, and with the addition oi a track for said cars, sloped with regard to the axis of said coating machine to compensate tor the sa's of said coated pipe so that that portion of the pipe through said extrusion coating machine will remain substantially coaxial thereto at all positions of said cars on said track.

8. A conveying apparatus according to. claim 5, with the addition of a trimmer blade on said second'car for cleaning a portion of coating from thereof.

9. A conveying apparatus according to claim 5, in which the means for selectively connectin said cars comprises a flexible cable, andwith the addition or means for selectively driving said cable to advance said cars and separate said pipe sections, and to return said cars toreceive a succeedins length oi. pipe.

10. A conveying apparatus for receiving successive lengths of pipe orthe like being discharged axially from a continuously operating coating machine, comprising a car length of pipe being the like bein portionoi the coating on v machine.

11, with the addition of coated and movable to be advanced by the axial motion of said pipe length, a second car supporting the trailing end of said pipe section after it emerges from said coating machine, means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said cars, said means including a tension element secured to said first car and means on said second car for engaging said tension element, and means for returning said cars in the same plane as their advance to receive a succeeding length of pipe.

11. A conveying apparatus for receiving and separating successive abutting lengths of pipe or the like being discharged axially from a continuously operating. coating machine, comprising a single track extending axially from said machine,

a first car on said track for receiving the leading end of a lengthof pipe, a second car on said track for receiving, the trailing end of said length of pipe, a cable extending throughout said track and secured to said first car, means on said second car for clamping it. to said cable to space.

it from said first car, and reversible drive means for said cable to advance both of said cars at a rate more rapid than the axial advance of said pipe out of said coating machine to separate said length of pipe from a return both of said cars on said track to a point adjacent to the discharge end of said coating 12. A conveying apparatus according to claim means on said second car of the coating from both abutting ends, extensible for cleaning a portion pipes adjacent their means on said car for receiving the cleaned porsuccessive abutting tionof the trailing end of the leading pipe .section, and means for sequentially operating said cleaning and said receiving means cable clamping means are actuated.

13. A pipe conveying apparatus for receivin successive lengths of pipe or the like being discharged axially from a treating operation, comprising an axially movable support means for the advancing end of a length of treated pipe, a second axially movable support means for the trailing end of said lengthoi pipe, and guide means for. said first and second support means extending axially from said pipe treating apparatus, said guide means being inclined to compensate for the sag of said pipe as it emerges operation to maintain that portion of the pipe still in said apparatus coaxial therewith.

14. A pipe conveying apparatus for receivin lengths of pipe or the like being discharged substantially horizontally from a coating operation, comprising a supp rt means for receiving the advancing end of an axially moving length of treated pipe, said means being movable to be advanced by said pipe, a second independently movable support means for the trailing end of said pipe length, said second named means having a portion so constructed and arranged as to be selectively extensible upwardly to receive said-trailing end of said pipe for returning both said supwmssun-posmwarrs.

succeeding length and to.

when said from said treating 

